Automobile umbrella holder



Dec. 27, 1932. w, BEEHLER 1,892,601

AUTOMOBILE UMBRELLA HOLDER Filed Dec. 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR ATTORNEY Dec. 27, 1932. BEEHLER 1,892,661

AUTOMOBILE UMBRELLA HOLDER Filed Dec. 29, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTQR Patented Dec. 27, 1932 UNITED s'rres issuer PATENT oeFicEf WILLIAM. IBEE-HLER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND AU'roMoBI Ln' UMBRELLA nonmeta- Application filed December 29, 1928. Serial No. 329,254.

case of rain.

Heretofore the carrying of umbrellas in motor cars has been discouraged because an ordinary umbrella placed loosely in any part of the car body is in the way of passengers,

will not maintain an upright position because of the car-body motions, and will usually fall to the floor where it is liable to damage by the shoes of passengers; and the umbrella fabric is also chafed or ruined by friction, in almost any position in which it may be located. While various holding devices supposedly suitable for this purpose have been proposed, all of such known to me have been defective because of inconvenient location, complication and unjustifiable cost, and other reasons, including especially failure to securely hold the umbrella in such position or such manner that it is free from pounding or chafing against the holder itself or parts of the car-body structure; for these reasons such devices have had practically no commercial usage.

By long familiarity with the manufacture, sale and use of umbrellas, and study and experiments directed to overcoming the difficulties o'r disadvantages above briefly referred I to, and to making the carrying of umbrellas in cars convenient and practical, I have produced holding devices, andhave so located them in or combined them with the carbody structure (as herein disclosed), that the umbrella is in an out-of-the-way position where it does not hamper the movements of occupants and is not subject to injury. by any of their movements, but is at the same time easily and immediately accessible for use; the umbrella is readily detachable from the holder, but when placed therein is securely or firmly held, in such manner that it 1s free from chafing or other njury by contact i also protects the body upholstery and the occupantsfrom moisture, when the umbrella is put away wet.

The importance of so supporting the urnbrella that abrasion of the fabric byfr'attling or pounding movements is prevented, will be: realized'when it is understood that the usual metal frame including the ribs weighs about 1 1b.; that when the vehicle is moving the body. is always inmore or less violent mo:

tion, and if not properlypositioned or sup'-' ported, the umbrella frame acts as a hammer to press, pound or rub the fabric against any adjacent object, which is practically an anvil for the frame-hammer action; if any such abrasive action is permitted, the fabric is 654 quickly 'chafed or worn through, and in a short time will be completely ruined. This I have'proved by tests, and it is also shown to be true by the old practice of carrying unprotected inner-tubes of tires in the tool box;

cover, if carried loosely in thetool box-or' elsewhere. 1 1 r I have also found that a very advanta-f geous location in an'auto-m'obile for an umbrella holder, is in an upper part of the body,

and so positioned that the umbrella is heldhorizontally; such a location may be on: the rearwall of the body, above the rear window, or more desirably, as herein disclosed, 'di-- rectly above the windshield, for reasons, and with advantages stated below. p F The term umbrella as here used is to'be understood as including parasol, although the greatest utility of the invention is in'providing for the proper carrying in'vehicles of true umbrellas. l 1 The characteristics and advantages ofJthe'" invention are further sufficiently explained in connection with the following detail description of 1 the accompanying drawings,

which show certain'representative embodiments; after considering these examples, skilled persons will understand that many' variations may be made without departing from the principles disclosed, and I contemplate the employment ofany structures orar- "'anglesto strip 1 and base 5.

rangements that are properly within the scope of the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one typical motor vehicle, with an umbrella holder combined therewith in one preferred position, and embodying the invention in one form.

Fig. 2. is a front elevation of the holder, with its coverorv case open, and withtheumbrella in position. I

Fig. 3 is a similar view, with the umbrella removed.

Fig. 4 is a section at 4-4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a view of one end of a holder generally similar to Figs. 1 to 4, but modified in respect to the holding clip, which in this exampleis longitudinally adjustable.

Fig. 6 shows a complete holder, the cover of.-which is. provided with a fastener of the continuous, rip-strip type.

Eig.:7 isaperspective viewof a somewhat modified construction, adapted to cooperate with the holder, or other holders such. as herein shown.

Fig. 8zis a front elevation of another form f holder, withan umbrella supported therein ina-diiferent way.

Fig. 9 is asection at 9-9, Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a .view similar to Fig. 9, but showing another'operative position of the Fig. 11 is a perspective view of another modifiedform of clip.

Figs. 12; and 13 show other forms of holders- Figures 1 to 4 inclusive show one preferred form ofholder H. This includesa frame 1, which maybe a narrow, straight flat strip of metal, provided with holesto receiveattachment bolts, orscrews 2. Clips 3are secured to the1 framestrip, as by rivets 4 passing through their base portions 5. The clips proper,-6-, are formed by slottingthe pieces 5, as at7, producing separatespring-jaws 8, which are bent .to parallel position, at right- Preferably, portions 7 of the slots extend into the base portions 5, (Figs. 3 and 5) or past-the-corner? produced by' bending the jaws, and into the mainstrip 1 (Fig.7) thus insuring ample flexibility of spring-action. The ends of the jaws are :beveled, as at-9, and each of these beveled facesleads to a parteround socket formationlO. The socket formations of each pair'ofjaws provide acomplete socket to positively but releasably grip a portion of the rod 511 of an umbrella U. Thus one of the-:cli'ps receives thetipor ferrule portion of the-rod, 11 Fig. 2, and the other clip receives a portion'of the rod adjacent the lower end of the handle 12, or between the handle and thetips 13 ofthe ribs. The umbrella-may in some cases, .and as'here shown, berslightly modified to facilitate'cooperation with the clip, that is, the rod and handle are so. dimensioned or arranged as to leave a tically all of standardized dimensions, especially as to rib-length, and since the principal utility of an umbrella when carried in a motor car is to provide the greatest possible protection from rain, and decorative appearance such as is found in womens umbrellas or others of special types or dimena sions,is unimportant, the clips may be spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the rib-length of such a standard umbrella, and

justable, to accommodate varying umbrella dnnenslons, as shown 111 F 1g. 5, .where thev frame-strip 1 is provided with a longitudinal slotl and the clip-base 5 is slidably secured. by upset rivets l passing through the slot.

The fit of the rivets may be tight enough to frictionally retain the clip in adjusted position; however, even if looselyconnected, the

clip or clips are retained in proper positions,

b engagement with the umbrella rod, when t e umbrellav has been properly insertedin them.

The rolled umbrella is easily inserted in the holder by applying the stated rod "portions to the socket entrances provided by the-beveled clip-j aw edges 9; pressure causes the jaws to resiliently spread, and the rod portions snap into the sockets; .the umbrella is then firmly and in effect positively held, without possibility of movement in relation to the holder, and with its fabric (preferably, as shown in Fig. l) out of contact with the frame or any other portion of the holder, and immune from abrasion when the holder is properly located and secured in the car body, as sufliciently referred to below.

The holderv may be used without a cover, but a cover such as C is desirable, and preferred in many cases. This cover is of generallytubular form, made in one or more pieces or gores, and is preferably designedto envelop the holder frame and the umbrella easy insertion of the umbrella, and the over- The cover has at one (theill) all dimension of the cover is slightly greater than the length of a standard umbrella. The frame 1 desirably has extensions 16, beyond the clips, of sufiicient length to properly spread the cover longitudinally.

Any known or suitable type of quicklyoperated fasteners may be provided for the cover opening, such as the snap fasteners 17 of Figs. 1 to 4; or preferably, in many cases, a fastener 18 of the continuous, rip-lock type, as shown in Fig. 6.

The material of the cover may vary. In some cases it may be substantially waterproof, as of imitation leather, water-proofed canvas, etc. But preferably it is of nonwater proof material, which is substantially porous, but thick enough to absorb all the drip from the rolled umbrella, if put away wet, and to permit drying of the umbrellaby evaporation though the cover, rapidly enough to avoid injury to the umbrella fabric. It is also desirable in many cases to use a material which harmonizes, or is identical, with the car upholstery. Thus, the cover may be of velour, or other material frequently used for motor-car upholstery, and in such cases can usually be made very inexpensively of waste pieces of the upholstery material.

The holder may be secured in any suitable position within the car body, including the locations mentioned early apove. A preferred location in many cases is that shown in Fig. 1, where the holder is secured by (bolts or) screws 2, passing through frame 1 and the cover, to the vertical wall 20 above the windshield 21 of any closed car, or any car having a standing roof. Since the one regular and necessary occupant of the car is the driver, and he will therefore use it more often than any other passenger, the umbrella is thus made most immediately and conveniently accessible to him. Especially when placed in a taxicab, as here shown, the umbrella is convenient to the driver, for his use in escorting passengers from car to house door, and also always in his view, so that chance of less of the umbrella is minimized.

Fig. 8 shows another modified umbrella U, in which the rod has short portions 25 proj ecting at the tip and handle ends, and provided at their ends with circular flanges or buttons 26. This umbrella will cooperate with the holder H abovedescribed, or with the simplified holder H of Fig. 7, in which the clips 8 are made integral with frame strip 1. The umbrella rod and button formations are designed to receive the holder jaws in an obvious way, the rod'members 25 snapping into the holder sockets, as in the previous example; and the buttons 26 and adjacent handle or tip formations prevent longitudinal movement of the umbrella. This result will also be produced if the rod and button arrangement such as 25-26 is provided at only one end, with the ordinary tip or ferrule construction at the other end of the umbrella.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show another modified holder, or especially a modified clip at one end thereof, to cooperate with an ordinary or standard umbrella. Here the clip 5 in cludes a fixed jaw 30, which may be integral with the frame strip, and bent perpendicularly thereto, and another'jaw 31, pivotally mounted at 32, with a spring 33 tending to move jaw 31 to a clamping position. The jaws have inner concave or arcuate edge formations 34;, designed to receive, and grip a relatively large portion of the umbrella, such as the group of rib-tipsadjacent the handle, or the handle 12, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The other clip may be'of any of the forms above described. Evidently this holder avoids necessity for any modification of the umbrella. The jaws and 31 also desirably have on their inwardfac'es, half-round socket formations which will grip the rod 11 of an umbrella, as shown in Fig. 10, if such a rod portionis available; thus this clip may be used alternatively,to grip a handle, or other large-diametered portion, or a small di ametered portiomsuch as the tip, of the um brella. In some cases the clip of Figs. 9 and 10 may be used at each end of the holder.

Fig. 11 shows another modified clip, ini eluding a fixed jaw 10 having a socket 11, and a flat spring 42 secured to frame strip 1, suitably bent and provided with a notch or socket formation 43 to cooperate with socket 4.1 and retain a rod or other portion of the umbrella. ,The ends of the spring or clip, and of j aw 40, are rounded, or beveled at to facilitate insertion of the umbrella rod.

In some cases, as, for example, when the holder is to be installed in the motorcar by the manufacturer the clips need not be con-. nected by a frame strip, but may be individually secured to a suitable part of the body (such as wall portion 20, Fig. 7, for example) in properly spaced relation, and with the cover properly located about the clips and by them secured to the body wall.

Figs. 12 and 13 show holders of loop form.

The clip or holder 50 of Fig. 12 is designed to accommodate the handle, or other part of a rolled umbrella, and clip 51 of Fig. 13, to receive the tip. These loops absolutely prevent displacement of the, umbrella.

1. An umbrella holder for automobiles comprising an enclosure offlexible sheet ma terial having a front opening with detachable fastening means and adapted to snugly They may be combined with a base-strip asshown f receive and enclose an umbrella, and means therein for positively. and detachablyengaging portions of the-umbrella and preventing chafing; of the umbrella. cover upon the enclosure, and for-securingthe enclosure to the automobile. V I Y 2, An umbrella holder for automobiles comprisingan enclosure offiexible sheet material having a front opening with detachable fastening means. and adapted to snugly ecei n ncl a um r a, nd l p within the enclosure for positivelyand detachably engaging portions of the umbrella rod and means mounting said clip and securing theenclosureto the automobile.

3. An umbrella holder for automobiles comprising enclosure of flexible sheet materialhaving a. front opening with detachable fastening. means and adapted to snugly receive and enclose an umbrella, and within the enclosure, a; frame strip provided. with means for positively and detachably engagingportions of'the umbrella and for securing the enclosure to theautomobile.

4;. An umbrella holder for automobiles comprising an enclosure of'fiexible sheet mater-ial having a, front opening with detachable fastening meansand adapted to snugly receive and enclose an umbrella, and within the enclosure a frame strip provided with meansfor positively and detachably engaging portions ofithe umbrella rod and for securing the enclosure to the automobile.

5.. An, umbrella holder for automobiles comprising an enclosure of flexible sheet material having a front opening with detachablefastening means and adapted to snugly receive and enclose an umbrella, and a frame strip within theenclosure, and spaced spring clips thereon adapted to positively and dc tachably engage portions of an umbrella rod;

' 6. Anumbrella holder for automobiles comprising-an enclosure of flexible sheet material having a front opening with detachable fastening means and adapted to snugly receive and enclose an umbrella, and within the enclosure a frame strip adapted for con: nection to a body portion of an automobile to securethe enclosure thereto and provided with means for positively and detachably engaging portions of the umbrella and holding it without chafing against the enclosure.

7. An umbrella holder for automobiles comprising an enclosure of flexible sheet material having a front opening and slidable fastening means therefor, a frame strip having spaced slots securing the enclosure to the automobile, and umbrella holding clips having means extending within the slots for lon-. gitudinal adjustment therewithin.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification this 5th day of November, 1928.

' WILLIAM BEEI-ILER.

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